Alive at Sunset is the second book in the Rituals of the Night YA Paranormal series. Luna has lived through the terror and death of Dead by Morning (Book 1) and has just finished up a semester at her college. Three years have passed since the events that occurred in high school and Luna, while still a loner and overachiever, has a new roommate, Amanda, and is trying to move on.
Her nemesis, Chance, is still in a coma though Luna’s friend Max tries to warn her that something is wrong and changes are coming. Luna tries to ignore him, but when things start to go wrong in her life, there can only be one person responsible.
I enjoyed the story. It’s a good follow-up to the events of Dead by Morning. Some issues are resolved from the first book and Chance comes across as a much more sympathetic figure (if you can believe it). I found the first part a little slow, but then the action picks up and doesn’t stop.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see what’s next for Luna. I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 Stars:

I was given a copy of Alive at Sunset for an honest review. Kayla Krantz has done yet again, this book lured me into false security only to yank the rug out from underneath me. I found myself asking my significant other if he would come lay down until I fell asleep last night in case a serial killer popped through my window ( he just laughed at me and told me I was a wuss).

The second novel in the series starts off at the beginning of summer vacation from college for Luna and her new best friend Amanda. It has been three years since Chance went into his coma and while Luna has started to piece her life back together she still insists on visiting the hospital he is located in once a week to make sure he is still there. It doesn’t take long however before things start to feel wrong and Max begins calling her about dreamworld. Chance has woken up and unlike they thought he remembers everything! He resumes making Luna’s life a living hell and attempting to kill anyone who means anything to her.

I truly enjoyed the plot of Alive at Sunset. Unlike most books, television shows, or films where the plot is predictable because they are not going to kill off the important characters Kayla Krantz has no problem offing anyone who comes in Chance’s path. I was amazed that pretty quickly two characters I would have considered important to the story were killed off. On the other hand the one I expected to be murdered quickly held out to the end of the book where I began to think maybe just maybe she’d squeak by.

I certainly never thought I’d end up pitying Chance. Chance went from psycho serial killer to pathetic soul that made you kind of wish Luna didn’t hate him so much so he could maybe redeem himself. I never saw that ending coming and truly surprised to feel so sad about it.

Though there are some confusions to the plot Alive at Sunset was still a win in my book. The book took me down an emotional path I would have thought was impossible for a character I thoroughly disliked. I look forward to finding out what shall come of Luna not that it’s not just her.

5/5 Stars:

Kayla Krantz’s second installment in the a Rituals of the Night series, proved to be just as compelling as the first book. The first book ends with a note left behind for Luna which leaves the reader with wonder and surprise. We take up Luna’s life three years later. Luna Ketz is a successful college student studying to be a doctor. College is only an hour away from Lima, Ohio, where the horrors of her past occurred. She still mourns the death of her best friend Violet’s horrible death. Roommate, Amanda desperately tries to engage Luna in fun things, dating, shopping, etc., even though Luna likes her roommate, she simply wants to live her life quietly alone. Every week, Luna is seen visiting the hospital where her tormenter Chance Welfrey is in a deep coma. Luna wants to ensure her mind that as long as the monster is asleep he can’t hurt her or kill her loved ones as he has done in her past. Then she receives a chilling call from friend, Max Cazmea, who leaves her with the warning that the horrors may be about to start again. Chance does enter her life again and with a vengeance. He worms his way into the daily and personal events of Luna’s life. Every time she thinks she sees a way out, Chance cleverly and evilly blocks her yielding Luna helpless to control her own life.
This installment once again ends with a note. Now this reader must wait until 2017 for the third book in this well written horror and suspense series.

5/5 Stars:

All I can say is: wow. I didn’t think the story could get more intense than Dead by Morning, the first book in the Rituals of the Night series, but I was wrong. The craziest part is how even the slow moments brought me to so many twists and turns that I hated to stop reading when real life came calling. Alive at Sunset took me much longer to finish than I’d wanted. I would have kept reading to the end in one sitting if given the opportunity.
The plot was strong and engaging, the characters diverse and well-developed, and the ending satisfying. To be honest, I was actually a little sad at how it turned out but only because the author made me feel and understand each character’s motivations until I almost rooted for everyone to just make peace and work things out. I had to remind myself multiple times of Chance Welfrey’s many crimes because it became difficult to see him as the antagonist. But, I guess we all see ourselves as the protagonist in our own story, even if we’re the villain in someone else’s.
Alive at Sunset is slightly darker than Dead by Morning, but that might have been what made it more interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in psychological thrillers and I can’t wait until the third one is published.

If you’re as excited as I am for this installment in the Rituals of the Night series to be released, please be sure to add your support to the Thunderclap! Thanks!

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Published by Author Kayla Krantz

Proud author responsible for Dead by Morning and The Council, fascinated by the dark and macabre. Stephen King is her all time inspiration mixed in with a little bit of Eminem and some faint remnants of the works of Edgar Allen Poe. When she began writing, she started in horror but it somehow drifted into thriller. She loves the 1988 movie Heathers. She was born and raised in Michigan but traveled across the country to where she currently resides in Texas.
View all posts by Author Kayla Krantz